A Boss Who Tells it Like it Is …

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn’t pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country. However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.
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Wow.

David Hardy:

(1) The only supply-side gun control that would have a chance of affecting crime is a ban and confiscation, all this toying around with assault weapons and similar issues is mere symbolism that affects nothing. (2) Anyone who thinks a ban and confiscation would work is delusional.

From the Second Amendment Blog Bash site:

So far, that’s what pro-Second Amendment bloggers have accomplished in only a few weeks. One dozen bloggers have recruited 55 new/upgraded/extended NRA members since November. On average, that’s 4.5 more NRA members per blogger than we had before the start of this little contest.

It’s the last day for the the specials.

I can’t decide if it’s the all the hope or all the change.

Today is inauguration day. A new president. A historic first in that a black guy will be president, which is pretty remarkable if you consider the events of the last several decades.

Unfortunately, I think the loyal worshipers are in for disappointment. The high hopes seem unrealistic. The change will be nearly nonexistent. And the guy is gonna have it rough. I mean, several states are bankrupt; Mexico is about to go Tango Uniform; India and Pakistan are having a dick-measuring contest; staple industries are in the crapper; if Hamas doesn’t stop shooting rockets into Israel, the Israelis are going to turn it into a crater; the .gov thinks that printing money and handing it out is going to fix every thing; and on and on. About the only positive I can think is that tomorrow the press will probably stop talking the economy down.

Who’d want the job?

We can all thank George Bush and the six years of Republican-controlled legislature for the biggest, most expensive, most intrusive, and wasteful federal government we’ve ever had. They took it, shook it up, and are now handing it off to their opposition. Good job, guys.

But good luck, Barry. We’re gonna need it.

Local Blogger Rich Hailey has a piece in the local newspaper about teachers and guns.

Meanwhile, the teens weigh in. Of course, if folks thought teenagers’ decisions mattered, they’d be allowed to enter into contracts.

Antiques and blackpowder guns are not classified as firearms, under federal law. That’s why you can order them by mail, get them without a background check, or saw off a front stuffer shotgun to your heart’s content. It’s also, apparently, a way for those in NYC to defend themselves.

Lots of stuff from Frank James.

More pics than you can shake a stick at. And prior year SHOT Show pics here.

All things SHOT from Gun Blast.

Via Insty, comes the revelation that We now have more poeple employed in government than manufacturing.

Or, man, I like some Evil Black 22LR Rifles!

Tactical 22LR rifles that look like other tactical rifles have been around for a bit. Some folks have made to resemble AR-15s, such as Spike’s Tactical various 22LR products – notably this very sexy ST-15, a short barreled rifle. There is also the Evolution Stock from RB Precision to give your 10/22 an Evil Black Rifle look and ProMag introduced the Archangel, which is also a way to dress up your 10/22.

One of the trends this year, highlighted at shot show, is the increase in tactical 22LR rifles that based on AR-15s. And other platforms as well. Such as:

S&W M&P15-22. A picture here. A snazzy, M4 looking 22LR.

Also, the Colt/Umarex M4 22 was introduced at shot.

And even Sig Sauer is marketing a 22LR version of their 556 called the Sig522LR.

A good idea for getting some trigger time in without the cost of 223 ammo. Good stuff.

Update: and how can I forget the GSG5.

An interesting case. David sums it up.

The law they’ve tried to pass before snubbing the federal .gov on gun laws is back. Joe has the details.

PDB: Do not attempt to catch a dropped gun. Let it fall!

I don’t know that it’s worth adding a fifth rule to the four rules since rule three (keep your boogr-hook off the bang-switch) seems to address that.

No, not the auto industry. The state of California:

If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger were to fire every employee in state government tomorrow, it would easily patch California’s enormous deficit, right? Not even close.

But surely shutting down all state prisons would do the trick? That, too, would only get him about a quarter of the way there.

Now what if he were to close every prison and cut off funding for health care and other services for the poor? Now we’re in the ballpark.

When you try to be all things to everyone, you eventually wind up being nothing to nobody.

Armalite rifles.

What everyone needs: an iPod Touch mount for your rifle.

Bushmaster Precision Marksmanship Rifle.

M1 Carbines with folding stocks.

S&W Nightguard 310.

Today, Al Gore dumped a whopping 1/64th of an inch of global warming on parts of East Tennessee. So, naturally, everything is shut down and people are freaking out.

I’m thinking about upgrading my dishwasher. I don’t want to break the bank, and will probably go with a black model rather than stainless. Apart from that, I’m wide open to suggestion. I’m replacing a low-end 24″ Kenmore unit that’s extremely noisy and doesn’t work very well. It came with the house.

My only real requirements:

1) It works well.
2) It’s relatively quiet.
3) It’s energy-efficient.
4) It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Any suggestions?

Michael Bane sums up SHOT:

The transition to a tactical market is clearly complete…as one wag said, you couldn’t swing a dead cat on any aisle without hitting an AR or accessory.

18 inches of scope on 20 inches of barrel.

Stopping the signal!

Via David.

Caleb:

Todd Jarrett is faster than my camera

Lots of stuff to make the tactical kiddies drool.

Post-Heller DC: D.C. Metropolitan Police Department has published a new 15 page guide to owning and registering a firearm in the District of Columbia.

RNS: In the post-Nordyke panel, the attorneys’ worst-case scenario still had our side seeing the 9th Circuit panel voiding Cruikshank and incorporating the 2nd Amendment against California (and the other 49 states), thanks to Heller.

Just in time for the inauguration. I’m guessing it will be as effective as a No Gun sign.

On Tacticool:

I did the tactical/homeland security/law enforcement section for the better part of the day. The upsurge in interest in anything related to the “tactical world” is nothing short of amazing. There are an untold number of vendors that specialize in clothing. You can’t count the number of rig, pack, and sling manufacturers. I won’t even get into the weapons systems that are being promoted by both major and minor armament dealers. I have seen, handled, and disassembled more suppressors today, than in my whole life previous to the shot show.

Not much new for hunters:

Seriously, what IS new?

OK, maybe I’m jaded. Maybe after coming to seven SHOT Shows in as many years, the impact just isn’t what it was. I mean, I see all the signs up there over these products proclaiming “NEW FOR 2009!”, but when I look, I think I mostly see the same old things. As my new friend and temporary roommate, Albert Rasch said, “how many ways can you slice a piece of cheese?”

I suppose if I were more into “black rifles”, I’d be pretty fired up over all the things that are going on out there. The tactical and law enforcement area is hopping and running over into the rest of the Convention Center. Heck, even Woolrich is getting in on the tactical market!

Dave Kopel has a report.

Big round up at ar15.com.

Lots of video reports here.

Glock to make 10mm versions of their SF pistols.

Ruger tactical.

Speaking of Glocks, an Aimpoint mount for them.

The Glock carbine kit. Would require an NFA tax stamp. But pretty cool.

Sig 226 Blackwater Tactical.

Remington Snipers.

What everyone really wants to see: Booth babes. More here.

Taurus 738 TCP pistol

S&W M&P15 MOE

LMT MRP 308 rifle

Cool gizmo you want but cannot have: Knights Armament Chain SAW. Speaking of, ’nuff said.

Big guns.

M1As

PTR 32 KF (7.62×39mm G3)

Now that is a gun.

Another victim of gun violence.

From Joe’s visit to a gun shop: One has to wonder if we had put that much money and effort into defeating Obama in November would we have succeeded?

Pics of Kevin’s 260 Remington. Range report here.